food + drinks + cooking + tv + movies + art

…and I’m back.

Things have changed in the past year – new job, new life stuff, new home. I’ve had a lot of adventures, seen new things…and also, eaten a ton of yumtastic goodies.

So this is the new Kung Pao Kimmie: mostly food, maybe a lot of drinks, the occasional side trip into adventure, but 100% fun.

To kick off the awesome, let’s take a look back at some of my favorite restaurant meals from this past year.

Comfort food: tomato bisque, grilled cheese on brioche. Superba in El Segundo is, indeed, superb for work lunches (or any lunches, let’s be honest).The perfect Spanish tortilla amuse bouche at a Feastly drunk brunch in Venice. #bloodymarymePlan Check on Fairfax doesn’t excel at much, but their beet salad is tops!Only Morimoto can take black cod to new, unexpected heights. This was extra tasty, even against Napa Valley standards.Jinya Ramen ’round the corner? All the yes.Americanized Korean BBQ never tasted so good. Especially when it comes with bibimbap! GenWa will always have my heart. #parentpleaserTapas at PintxoPote in Los Gatos – huevo y gamba like they do it in Espana.Nobody does BBQ in Hollywood the way Bludso’s does. Special appearance by my MiniMiniMe ❤Al pastor taco at Petty Cash in the middle of a weekend bender? YES, PLEASE.Who knew I’d find a fantastic little artisan pizza joint with gorgeous local charcuterie in Frederick, CO? Not I, but what a tasty surprise it was!The perfect bite of the perfect pork belly at Broken Spanish. DTLA is gaining quite a food rep…Sometimes I need comfort, and nothing reminds me of home like Halo Halo from Max’s in Glendale. This Filipino resto specializes in all the things that Pinays like me grew up eating, including this shaved ice-ice cream-jellied fruits dessert bomb.When you’re friends with a chef, sometimes that means he puts you to work at his DTLA Feastly pop-up. Chicken afritada pot pies, anyone?